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Man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughte, sentenced to 20 years

An Alabama man on Monday pleaded guilty to a reduced murder charge and was sentenced to a 20-year prison term — with 10 to serve and 10 on probation — in the 2012 slaying of his uncle.

Joseph Raymond Bailey, 40, of Jacksonville, Ala., pleaded guilty to a voluntary manslaughter charge in the July 9, 2012, death of 56-year-old Tyrone Bailey. The victim was stabbed and beaten during a domestic dispute on July 7, 2012.

Bailey on Monday morning rejected an open-ended plea to the same charge, telling Chatham County Superior Court Chief Judge Michael Karpf that he had a self-defense claim.

Bailey, represented by assistant public defenders Robert Attridge and Falen Cox, told the judge he would plead guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter but did not want to face a possible 20-year sentence on voluntary manslaughter.

After meeting with family members, Bailey changed his mind and entered the open-ended plea to voluntary manslaughter. An open-ended plea leaves the final sentence to the judge.

In sentencing Bailey, Karpf said that while there was “substantial mitigation” in the case, including the fact the victim had a knife when Bailey entered the residence, “the real problem here is the excessive force that was used after the victim was on the ground.”

The indictment charged Bailey with causing blunt force trauma to the victim’s face, head and neck and stabbing him with a knife.

Evidence from Assistant District Attorney Frank Pennington II showed the victim was knocked to the ground, then beaten.

He died at Memorial University Medical Center three days later.

The attack occurred at 1020 W. 46th St. where the victim lived and Bailey frequently stayed.

Karpf was preparing to select a jury when Bailey changed his mind on the plea.